Horses are foragers and herbivores. A forager roams about looking for food (eating trees, bushes, grass and so on). A herbivore is one who eats plants. Horses eat grass, herbs and other foraged plants throughout the day. Wild horses, of course, don't partake of supplements that the "tame" ones do.

Our beloved equine friends spend many hours of the day grazing. But, there is only so much around to mounge on. To circumvent this issue, hay is fed to horses.

Hay varies in nutritional value by, among other things, location, so a horse owner needs to engage in researching the area the hay comes from.

There are many things to consider when assessing the nutritional value of hay as it pertains to horses.

One factor to consider is the amount of energy the hay provides.

Another factor is the quantity of digestible fiber provided by the hay. Fiber is necessary in order to ensure proper digestion, among other reasons.

Younger horses require additional protein to ensure proper growth, so you may need to add more protein to their diet by way of protein supplements or soybean meal. This is something you need to look into more closely for too much protein may bring about Founder, Laminitis, or other diseases.

Proceed with caution. Find a good horse vet and ask them for more information tailored to your horse.

So, hay really is for horses. But, be sure to evalute the particulars of the hay before giving it to your four-legged friend (or is it 2 armed and 2 legged friend?).